U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is hoping to protect frequent cross-border travellers from a scam that is making the rounds.
The CBP has reported a rise in complaints from people who have received calls or texts from those claiming to be with the border agency, demanding some form of payment.
The calls come from scammers claiming to be with the CBP, or U.S. Border Patrol, and have been reported all over the U.S.
Complaints have included those about scammers who want the would-be victim to confirm certain details, claiming that the CBP had received a shipment of illegal goods or laundered money with the victim's name and address. When the victim is hesitant to disclose the information, they are threatened with arrest or deportation.
The CBP said some scammers have even resorted to using phony badge numbers, or the name of a real CBP employee that is easily found on their official website.
"A variation of this call is a pre-recorded message stating that a 'shipment of drugs or money with your name on it has been intercepted'," read a release from the CBP. "The target is then instructed to press '1' to speak with a CBP officer or agent. When connected, the scammer then attempts to confirm the target’s banking information."
If you receive such a call, the CBP recommends you immediately hang up. If contacted by text or voicemail, do not respond, call back, or text back.
Border agents will also never demand payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The CBP has also recommended not trusting caller ID, as scammers can create phony phone numbers that appear legitimate.
If you receive such a call or text, report it to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's official Report Fraud webpage.